Locally, the temptation, always, is to criticize people with - for want of a better word - 'ubiquitous' cell phones or trendy cell phones, some of which look like they have just dropped out of an alien spaceship, seeing their curious and bizarre designs and colour displays.
But these are the latest phones on the market, phones that look like they are going to talk - literally to you or worse (even better) cheer you up when you're depressed or celebrate with you when the occasion demands.
The criticism is usually followed by the seemingly reasonable proclamations that a cell phone, typically, is for making and receiving calls, sending and receiving text messages through the Short Messaging Service - SMS, nothing more and nothing less.
True, a cell phone is ideally supposed to allow users to do just that. But, ever since the advent of this wonder, new technologies for mobile phones have been developed so much that in today's bulging information age, text messaging and call waiting seem so archaic and with all due respect to these two valuable innovations - out of place. An example is Third Generation technology or 3G in short.
But in Malawi, the two mobile phone service operators, Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) and Celtel Malawi currently do not offer 3G services. However, Celtel Malawi has come up with new and exciting services that are, without a doubt - an indication that the country may be, finally, heading towards the age of 3G networking.
Celtel Malawi has introduced mobile data services in the form of mobile Internet and multimedia messaging, popularly known as MMS. Of course, the mobile Internet service has always been around for the people who cared to hop on to this bandwagon, available on both networks, TNM and Celtel.
Coming through the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), this service enables subscribers with compatible phones to browse the Internet and check their emails on the go literally.
But, at US$0.17 a minute for Celtel subscribers and $0.03 a minute for TNM subscribers, many people probably thought it a long shot to access such services, unless of course it was very necessary to go online on their phones.
So perhaps this is why Celtel Malawi has come with a very attractive package of mobile online connectivity. For 15 Units (or $0.15 in the normal sense), Malawians can now take a picture of their birthday party, send it to their friend who could not make it and make them jealous they did not come to the party.
Even better, they can now capture their other moments on video and share them with family and friends all over Malawi. The service currently does not support international connections.
It is, however, the initial price offer from Celtel that truly points to just how much effect this innovation can have on mobile communication in Malawi.
At 19 Units ($0.19) per Mega Byte (MB) people here can now reach out to the world, browse their favourite web pages, download data ? pictures, music and videos, send and receive emails (with attachments ? provided your mobile mail client allows for that) and still have enough time and space to Google their names, their partners' and even their neighbours'if they so wish.
Philip Mwawa is an IT student in Blantyre, Malawi?s commercial capital city. He tells of his experience with the mobile internet service. "It's such an amazing development. There are times when I've wished I could carry my PC with me but now I don't have to since my cell phone can now act in its role," he says.
Some Malawian journalists too, have joined in the fray and are enjoying this latest offer from Celtel Malawi. Jack McBrams is a journalist with Nation Publications Limited based again in Blantyre.
"This couldn't have come at a better time. I'm constantly on the go and hence the need to check my emails. I can also know what's happening around the world without needing to be on a computer. Actually, I can now file my stories from remote locations as long as they have Celtel network,' he says.
The ability of phones to bypass computers is what might just break the digital divide here in Malawi given the cost of computers. The local minimum cost of a brand new PC is about US$700.
But also, WAP-compatible phones do not come cheap locally. Users will have to part with at least US$200 to get a phone that can allow them to tap into the wealth of excitement that is mobile connectivity.
Yet, with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicating that in 2001, Africa became the first region where the number of mobile subscribers exceeded those using fixed lines and that the number of mobile subscribers grew by 80 million between 1998 and 2004, the cost of cell phones might just be pushed down.
For now, the world is slowly finding its way in Malawians' palms.
Friday, 2 November 2007
Interrogate the Global Village - President
People must not speak of the global village as if all countries had equal presence and influence in it, the president of Malawi, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika has warned.
Speaking upon his return from the Connect Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda from 29 to 30 October, Mutharika said the presence of Africa has not been entirely felt in the global village but people go on to speak about the village as if all was well.
"We need to quiz our presence in this village. There are questions that have not been answered because there are unequal representations where countries in Africa are dominated by developed ones," Mutharika said.
He noted, in particular, that simple communication such as sending a fax to a regional country is costly because, among other factors, the fax takes time to go through. But, if the very same fax was being sent to the United States of America, it would go through without hassles.
"They [information superpowers] have made our communication with them easier but communication amongst ourselves very difficult," Mutharika said in apparent reference that most of the calls between African countries are first routed to Europe and then re-routed back to Africa.
The president also recognized the fact that most Malawians still do not have access to the internet and that, where the case allowed them to do so, the high cost of the services prevented them from doing so.
But Mutharika was very optimistic, citing the Eastern Africa Submarine System (Eassy) project as one way by which the costs of communication could be pushed down.
The president also promised to develop policies that favoured greater use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the country's agricultural sector.
"It's high time we bring our farmers to the world and the world to our farmers. We need to have platforms where they can share information, know where to get inputs and also sell their products," Mutharika said.
Malawi has so far taken a lackadaisical approach to the ICT revolution that is sweeping across the African continent. The country's cabinet is currently sitting on a draft ICT policy that was initially drafted in 2003 and updated in 2006.
Many stakeholders see the absence of such a blueprint as contributing to the slow integration of Malawi into the global village.
Speaking upon his return from the Connect Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda from 29 to 30 October, Mutharika said the presence of Africa has not been entirely felt in the global village but people go on to speak about the village as if all was well.
"We need to quiz our presence in this village. There are questions that have not been answered because there are unequal representations where countries in Africa are dominated by developed ones," Mutharika said.
He noted, in particular, that simple communication such as sending a fax to a regional country is costly because, among other factors, the fax takes time to go through. But, if the very same fax was being sent to the United States of America, it would go through without hassles.
"They [information superpowers] have made our communication with them easier but communication amongst ourselves very difficult," Mutharika said in apparent reference that most of the calls between African countries are first routed to Europe and then re-routed back to Africa.
The president also recognized the fact that most Malawians still do not have access to the internet and that, where the case allowed them to do so, the high cost of the services prevented them from doing so.
But Mutharika was very optimistic, citing the Eastern Africa Submarine System (Eassy) project as one way by which the costs of communication could be pushed down.
The president also promised to develop policies that favoured greater use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the country's agricultural sector.
"It's high time we bring our farmers to the world and the world to our farmers. We need to have platforms where they can share information, know where to get inputs and also sell their products," Mutharika said.
Malawi has so far taken a lackadaisical approach to the ICT revolution that is sweeping across the African continent. The country's cabinet is currently sitting on a draft ICT policy that was initially drafted in 2003 and updated in 2006.
Many stakeholders see the absence of such a blueprint as contributing to the slow integration of Malawi into the global village.
A word about Vasco
Many readers responded passionately to my column last week about a 10-year-old Malawi boy named Vasco Sylvester, an AIDS orphan I met while traveling in Africa last month.
Vasco, who lives with extended family in an impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Blantyre, Malawi, with little access to basic health care, is battling a life-threatening heart condition. You wanted to know how you might help the boy.
To that end, the Sun-Times has established a trust fund for Vasco. Contributions may be sent to: VASCO'S HEART, Chicago Sun-Times Charity Fund, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654.
PLEASE NOTE: Checks should be made out to the Chicago Sun-Times Charity Fund but must include the words "VASCO'S HEART" in the memo line.
In the last week, much has been going on behind the scenes in an effort to get Vasco the health care he needs, either in Malawi, elsewhere in Africa or in Chicago. We will keep you updated on his story in the weeks and months to come.
Thank you for your care and generosity of spirit.
Cathleen Falsani
Vasco, who lives with extended family in an impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Blantyre, Malawi, with little access to basic health care, is battling a life-threatening heart condition. You wanted to know how you might help the boy.
To that end, the Sun-Times has established a trust fund for Vasco. Contributions may be sent to: VASCO'S HEART, Chicago Sun-Times Charity Fund, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654.
PLEASE NOTE: Checks should be made out to the Chicago Sun-Times Charity Fund but must include the words "VASCO'S HEART" in the memo line.
In the last week, much has been going on behind the scenes in an effort to get Vasco the health care he needs, either in Malawi, elsewhere in Africa or in Chicago. We will keep you updated on his story in the weeks and months to come.
Thank you for your care and generosity of spirit.
Cathleen Falsani
Scotland and Malawi
Funding of £68,000 for a project which will promote enterprise and economic development in Malawi has been announced.
Minister for External Affairs Linda Fabiani said increasing sustainable growth was a key element of Scotland's Co-operation Agreement with Malawi and the principal focus of a Trade Connections event in Glasgow.
She said:
"In the July Joint Commission meeting, the Government of Malawi urged us to prioritise economic development.
"We must create real opportunities that will enable Malawi to develop its economy and give Malawians the chance to create a sustainable livelihood.
"That is why I am pleased to announce initial support to the Scotland-Malawi Business Group for their Malawi Enterprise Programme. This funding of £68,000 within this financial year will support microfinance and a scheme to help young Malawians to set up their own businesses."
The funding will come from the International Development Fund.
Minister for External Affairs Linda Fabiani said increasing sustainable growth was a key element of Scotland's Co-operation Agreement with Malawi and the principal focus of a Trade Connections event in Glasgow.
She said:
"In the July Joint Commission meeting, the Government of Malawi urged us to prioritise economic development.
"We must create real opportunities that will enable Malawi to develop its economy and give Malawians the chance to create a sustainable livelihood.
"That is why I am pleased to announce initial support to the Scotland-Malawi Business Group for their Malawi Enterprise Programme. This funding of £68,000 within this financial year will support microfinance and a scheme to help young Malawians to set up their own businesses."
The funding will come from the International Development Fund.
£68,000 Scots boost for Malawi business
THE Scottish Government yesterday announced a major funding boost to help business grow in Malawi.
In time for the two-year anniversary of the co-operation agreement between the two countries, Linda Fabiani, the international development minister, pledged £68,000 to the Scotland-Malawi Business Group for its Malawi Enterprise Programme.
The announcement reflects a move towards promoting economic development in the southern African country as well as immediate poverty relief.
Ms Fabiani said: "In the July Joint Commission meeting, the government of Malawi urged us to prioritise economic development.
"We must create real opportunities that will enable Malawi to develop its economy and give Malawians the chance to create a sustainable livelihood.
"This funding of £68,000 will support micro-finance and a scheme to help young Malawians to set up their own businesses."
Ms Fabiani made her announcement at the first trade fair promoting Malawian goods in Scotland.
Trade Connections, held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow yesterday, was set up to stimulate £1 million of investment between the two countries.
But Eoghan Mackie, the chief executive of volunteer agency Challenges Worldwide, said Scotland could not hope to solve the massive problems in health and education with such small funds.
He said Scots could help Malawi by promoting skills and innovation in key areas.
"I do not think that the Scottish Government's role should be to give away money. The amount of money involved is small, so I think that it can be put to far better use."
In time for the two-year anniversary of the co-operation agreement between the two countries, Linda Fabiani, the international development minister, pledged £68,000 to the Scotland-Malawi Business Group for its Malawi Enterprise Programme.
The announcement reflects a move towards promoting economic development in the southern African country as well as immediate poverty relief.
Ms Fabiani said: "In the July Joint Commission meeting, the government of Malawi urged us to prioritise economic development.
"We must create real opportunities that will enable Malawi to develop its economy and give Malawians the chance to create a sustainable livelihood.
"This funding of £68,000 will support micro-finance and a scheme to help young Malawians to set up their own businesses."
Ms Fabiani made her announcement at the first trade fair promoting Malawian goods in Scotland.
Trade Connections, held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow yesterday, was set up to stimulate £1 million of investment between the two countries.
But Eoghan Mackie, the chief executive of volunteer agency Challenges Worldwide, said Scotland could not hope to solve the massive problems in health and education with such small funds.
He said Scots could help Malawi by promoting skills and innovation in key areas.
"I do not think that the Scottish Government's role should be to give away money. The amount of money involved is small, so I think that it can be put to far better use."
Grant helps communities prevent malaria outbreaks
A $1.5 million Malaria Communities Program grant from USAID to Christian Reformed World Relief Committee will expand malaria prevention.
CRWRC has earned the grant for their 20 years of work in Malawi. Another news source reported that, Wednesday, the UN closed a refugee camp in the country for security reasons. Those in the camp were placed in a different camp where they will rebuild their homes in a new community.
CRWRC's will help such communities prevent malaria. Over the course of five years they will partner with Nkhoma Relief and Development to reach more than 50,400 homes. They will promote the use of preventative measures such as insecticide-treated bed-nets.
They will also specifically reach out to children and pregnant women. CRWRC will encourage prenatal exams and immediate medical examinations and treatment for suspected cases in children younger than five.
The most important part of their outreach will be empowerment. CRWRC's strong relational foundation and history in Malawi will be a great tool in this effort. CRWRC has an international reputation of "helping people help themselves." During the awards ceremony Rear Adm. R. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator, said "Groups with local connections that have worked to build trust and provide hope are key partners in the effort to combat malaria at the local level."
Malawi cuts bank rate to 15 pct as inflation eases
Malawi's central bank cut its bank rate to 15 percent from 17.5 percent on Thursday in response to sliding inflation.
"The monetary policy committee observed with satisfaction that all macroeconomic indicators continue to perform well, and the reduction in the bank rate was necessary to sustain growth," central bank spokeswoman Miriam Wemba said.
The cut follows a reduction from 20 percent in August, and comes in the wake of good maize harvests over the past two years that have helped drive down food inflation.
Headline inflation in the southern African nation eased to single digits for the first time in four years in January and has continued to slow, reaching 7.1 percent year-on-year in September.
Malawi's economy is growing rapidly, buoyed by the agricultural sector.
The International Monetary Fund last month upped its forecast for growth in 2007 to 7.5 percent from 5.6 percent.
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe said he expected more rate cuts with inflation set to continue easing.
"With the latest inflation for September now at 7.1 percent, revised strong growth of 7.5 percent for this year, I mean the bank rates had to be reduced," he told Reuters.
"We expect further cuts if we continue at this pace."
Analysts welcomed the move.
"It's a timely move and I think it will greatly help in accelerating the pace of lending by the financial system," said Andy Kuigomba, Head of Treasury at Nedbank, one of the leading banks in the country.
"The monetary policy committee observed with satisfaction that all macroeconomic indicators continue to perform well, and the reduction in the bank rate was necessary to sustain growth," central bank spokeswoman Miriam Wemba said.
The cut follows a reduction from 20 percent in August, and comes in the wake of good maize harvests over the past two years that have helped drive down food inflation.
Headline inflation in the southern African nation eased to single digits for the first time in four years in January and has continued to slow, reaching 7.1 percent year-on-year in September.
Malawi's economy is growing rapidly, buoyed by the agricultural sector.
The International Monetary Fund last month upped its forecast for growth in 2007 to 7.5 percent from 5.6 percent.
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe said he expected more rate cuts with inflation set to continue easing.
"With the latest inflation for September now at 7.1 percent, revised strong growth of 7.5 percent for this year, I mean the bank rates had to be reduced," he told Reuters.
"We expect further cuts if we continue at this pace."
Analysts welcomed the move.
"It's a timely move and I think it will greatly help in accelerating the pace of lending by the financial system," said Andy Kuigomba, Head of Treasury at Nedbank, one of the leading banks in the country.
Building stronger links between Orkney and Malawi
A GROUP of volunteers from Orkney has been reflecting on the success of a recent trip to help rural communities in the African country of Malawi.
Fifteen people from the Mainland, South and North Isles spent at least a fortnight helping to build a church and a library, fixing a water pump to provide fresh drinking water, painting and furnishing new classrooms, teaching villagers how to knit, and educating people about HIV/AIDS.
Project Malawi, as the mission was called, was the brainchild of Stromness minister Reverend Fiona Lillie. Having witnessed at first hand the lack of resources and general hardship of life in rural Africa, she set out to raise awareness, and cash to alleviate the plight of five villages in the Ntchisi district of Malawi. But once they got there, another set of neighbouring villages also received help.
Fourteen other people came forward to make the physical journey to Malawi to ensure that the figure of £20,000 raised in Orkney over the past two years would be used wisely.
Karen Scott from Stromness was one of the local people who took time off work to go to Malawi.
"We got far more out of the trip than we put in. That's for sure. I always viewed it as being a sort of life-changing experience. It wasn't a 'trip of a lifetime' because I will be going back. And every one of us will be going back. The people are so friendly and they are not greedy folk. They are just looking for a bit to help them."
One of the projects which the Orkney volunteers worked at was decorating and furnishing a school in Ntchisi.
Karen commented: "The kids were absolutely fantastic. They wanted to help. They just got in there, wanting to do all the work. They just had bare concrete benches and tables to sit and work at. Once we got the concrete benches out, we limewashed the windows and walls and then we painted pictures on top of that. Fiona Lillie, Cristine Ferguson and Annabel Laird were the main artists. The rest of us just did the colouring in. We used a Noah's Ark theme. We bought 20 new tables and plastic chairs for the three classrooms. We also had toys and toy boxes, books and mats. I ordered three big mats - one for each of the classrooms and six small ones. The small mats cost 200 kwacha each -roughly 60p.
"The school seemed to have a roll call at the end of the day, as well as in the morning, to see who has stayed. It took us a wee bit to get used to the structure in the school. But once we got to see it working there was a very good structure in the school.
"As soon as you go out there, the kids surround you and ask your name, how many children you have. They are interested in you. The teachers were interested in where we came from and the size of population. So there was a two-way exchange process."
But over and above decorating and furnishing classrooms, people in Orkney have paid for longer-term help for 200 pre-school Malawian children, so that they have a better start in life.
Karen explained: "We have set up a training scheme for ten teachers and a food programme for a year. So that those 200 children - 3, 4 and 5-year-olds - get a meal every day. That cost £600 to train the teachers, to buy pots for cooking the meal and for the food every day for a year. We thought that was really worthwhile. Three schools in Orkney - Eday, Papay and St Andrews - bought parachutes for the children to play with. What fun the kids had with the parachutes. We also took out some footballs with us. They love football."
Another kind of education programme was started in Malawi by the Orkney volunteers - learning to knit.
Karen said: "We took out knitting needles with us. We almost created a riot with the knitting, because we didn't have enough wool. They were desperately wanting to knit. One of the things they were doing was buying wool out there, for them to set up a knitting class, so that they could have a cottage industry to knit things for sale. They were getting about a ball of wool, and they couldn't do much with that amount. But the boys, lasses and the mothers all knitted - some beautifully. There was one boy who really took to knitting, and he came up to our road-end every morning, waiting for another ball of wool."
Churches in the Ntchisi area of Malawi also benefited from Orkney folk's generosity.
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was given a new keyboard and its choir received a new uniform, which enables the group to get paid for singing at events.
Karen noted: "They were so proud of their new outfits and so delighted with what we did for them, that they decided to sing for us one afternoon. So we had the women's choir and the church choir who spent 2.5 hours with us, which was absolutely wonderful. It maybe took away from our limited time there. But they felt that they needed to do it, to thank us properly."
Although from a different denomination, the chef at the lodge where the Orkney volunteers were staying hinted that if there was any money spare at some point in future his church needed a front door and some cement and limewash for the walls.
The Orkney contingent simply paid for those materials and also bought the Baptist congregation a new keyboard. One of the highlights of the trip, said Karen, was to see how appreciative the chef was of those donations.
The biggest single physical project which the Orkney group got involved in was the rebuilding of the local church in Ntchisi, which was supervised by Kevin Kirkpatrick from Longhope.
Karen said: "We thought we only had to put a roof on the existing building when we went out there, not build a whole new church. Hence the 'Raise the Roof' campaign we held at the Dounby Show among other things, getting sponsorship to pay for the new roof.
"They wanted a 25-metre-long new church, but we compromised and went for a 17-metre building. But rather than build the new church alongside the old one, they wanted it on the same site. So we realised that we would have to knock down the existing building. When Kevin (Kirkpatrick) said it would take the whole time we were out there to demolish the old church, the local folk set to and it was down in half an hour. They hauled at it and shook it, until it fell down."
The new church was well on its way to completion by the time the last of the Orkney volunteers returned home. Local builders had made 50,000 bricks in advance, although the church would only need 6000 bricks. So that gave them surplus assets to sell.
One of the most devastating things the Orkney contingent saw was the effect that HIV/AIDS was having on African communities.
Funds from Orkney will be channelled into helping combat the stigma and consequences of being diagnosed HIV positive.
Karen Scott explained: "These people are left at the back of the queue for care and support. But they've all got families. They
are frightened to come out into the open because it is still not really very well accepted over there. They have made up a group and they have got part of a plantation to grow food, so that they can sell it. We're going to be providing them with some chickens, goats and fertiliser, to encourage other folk to come forward and get tested, to show that they are going to get help. They need better food and protein to help their body fight the illness. We are looking at a programme to help folk who are HIV positive because our money goes a long way there."
In the run-up to the trip to Malawi, clothes and sandals were bought with the money given by people in Orkney and sent out to Africa for distribution.
Karen Scott highlighted a slight problem they had with all the clothing.
"We had a struggle to think of how we were going to divide this out among the five villages that we were originally going to help. So we gave one bag of sandals and two bags of clothes to each of the village headmen. They took that back to their villages and dished them out, as and where needed.
"Basically, our contact from now on will be by letter. We've got all the contact direct with the villages and the groups because each one has its own committee. There was no communications within the villages we were working at. Our feeling is that they are 'our bairns' and 'our villages'. One person said: 'Mind on, don't get too attached. There is no way you can't get too attached. You just can't help yourself but take it on board."
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